READY FOR SANTA!

This was right before we left the house to go see Santa. It was quite a trip. Violet was very excited about going and she "ho, ho, ho-ed" all the way to the mall. Once we got there things changed. As we walked up to him she clung to me and frantically yelped, "no!no!no!" She was absolutely terrified. I made her do it anyway because I wanted the photo. How horrible of a mother am I? She really isn't a fan of strangers, especially big ones with facial hair and a crazy outfit. I'll try to scan the photo from the visit and post it sometime this week, it is freakin' hilarious.

Eleanor believes that mall Santas are actually helpers of the Real Santa and that sometimes he shows up so you never really know if it's him or not. The same "Santa's Helper" has been at our mall since Eleanor was a baby, which is really sweet because all of the photos look the same. After this last visit, she said on the way home, "I've decided I think that our Santa is the Real Santa because he's always there and he is sooo nice." I love that. I love Christmas because of my kids. I actually think it's better to watch your own kids with their excitement and magic then it is to experience it for yourself as a child. Although, I don't remember too well... after all I'm sure my siblings ruined it for me pretty early. Thanks-